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Opinion Council must ensure broad | representation Dear Editor: Re: Tiny Township electoral system con- tributed to abuse of power by previous councils and should be changed. Following Tiny Township Nov. 14, 1988 municipal election, the matter of the amended form of proxy voting has come into sharp focus. The current OPP probe into complaints about the application of the new proxy vote procedure as it was carried out in the township of Tiny municipal election, raises the whole question as to whether or not the electors of Tiny Township will be generally well served in the future under the new system of proxy voting, which was enacted in 1988, by amendments to the Municipal Elections Act. Under the new proxy procedure of voting, coupled with the present electoral system in Tiny Township based on a "seneral vote' of all electors in respect of all candidates seeking office, it doesn't take much imagination to foresee the distinct possibility of the township's future municipal elections dominated by one or two special interest groups that are suffi- ciently well-heeled and bankrolled to engage in a '"'corporate-type"' proxy battle for non-resident votes. The overwhelming majority of Tiny Township's in excess of 17,000 electors are non-resident and will, therefore, take on a much greater significance in elections to come if the present system remains unchanged. Tiny Township's new council should seriously consider adopting measures to ensure the broadest council representation possible. One approach in achieving this objec- tive, would be by revamping the present outmoded system to provide for geographical representation from five to seven areas of the municipality, generally known as the '"'ward system." The present five-member council should be increased substantially. While the majority of Tiny's new coun- cil carried the day in the recent elections as the result of a big assist from those elec- tors appointing proxies, which effec- tiveness was doubled by the proxies voting in their own right, proxy voting in itself, under the present election system in Tiny township, does little or nothing for the non-alligned, independent candidate of modest financial means who is confronted with the awesome task of campaigning in an area covering 98,000 acres. The ward system of elections may not resolve all the inequities between can- didates, it would, however, help level the playing field by dramatically reducing the campaign area of citizens seeking elective office as councillors. The limited representation on Tiny Township Council for so many years, was the result of a status quo mentality, and contributed in part, to the abuse of power which was evident by the cavalier and dic- torial policies frequently displayed by a number of previous councils. Hopefully, a new electoral system em- bracing a more representative and democratic form of municipal government in Tiny Township will be in place within the next two years. Sincerely yours, Bill Ogilvie Tiny Township SSI rr SSS SX SSS | SSNS pee on SS CV) a | Noye gone up. again. = I $e we | ipping cnaraes ot Keele Geis r KNOWLTON 29 ¢ pw What's in a name? The thought occurred to me when I read Murray Moore's col- umn in the Huronia Weekend. Murray was writing about possible names for his next child, which is due shortly. In it, he writes, "a person's name reflects not on the bearer, who had nothing to say about the matter, but on the namers." I readily agree with his point about the namers. In fact, some of the people who name their children should be punished for the burden they've forced them to carry for the rest of their lives. A theory I have is that many names that are given largely determine that person's looks and character. For instance, what comes to mind when you hear, 'Bertha?' A rather squat, fat creature with hair on her lip is my reaction. 'Spike?' Obviously a tough looking thug. Tatoos, scars, etc. Likewise that person's father has similar features and undoub- tably thought Spike was the only name for his son (possibly regretting that his father didn't have the same idea when naming him). Also, I have to wonder if parents know what they're doing when they name a child Guy. If they don't have a French background, the likelihood of later finding them in in- terior decorating or hairdressing is great- ly increased. Naming the sons Eugene or Egbert prac- tically ensures they'll never become foot- ball linebackers. Nuclear physicists maybe, but not athletes. Not forgetting the women, the names Gertrude and Matilda usually bring to Some more about Moore mind World War | and II tanks lumbering across a battlefield. How about Olive? Either a martini or a vision of Popeye's girlfriend is forthcom- ing here. The name "Alberta" is another strange one. I can just see Mr. and Mrs: Edmon- ton deciding on that name for their daughter. At parties: "Hi there, what's your name?" She would answer, '"'Alberta Ed- monton."' "Excuse me, but I asked your name, not where you're from," would be a common reply that the unfortunate girl would be forced to deal with until she got married (unless it's to a Mr. Vodka, of course). Please pardon me stretching this argu- ment, but remember that I'm writing this on a Friday, which usually puts me in a strange frame of mind. I figure the hardest part about having a, -- Penetanguishene Citizen Published each Wednesday by Telemedia Communications Ontario Inc., 309 King Street, Midland, Ontario Subscription rates: 40'/single copy; by carrier home delivery (where applicable) $36.40/year, 35'/copy; by mail in Canada $39.00/year; by mail outside Canada $100.00/year. Other rates available on request. Second Class Mail Registration Number 2327 526-2283 General Manager: Judy French Managing Editor: Tim Kraan Asst. Managing Editor: David Krayden Senior Writer: Murray Moore Staff Writers: Chris Harries, Michael Suedield, Robert Risk, Barb Skelton Sports: Arnold Burgher Sales Manager: Grace Kidd Sales Representatives: Karen Caldwell, Nancy Downer, Peter Hamelin, Denise McCluskey, Don McIntyre, Joy Turner Circulation Manager: Jim Baker = *CNA Photographer: Jennifer Craw (=9 Member Ammen 'age P4, Wednesday, January 11, 1989 shall we say 'original' name is the school years and all the teasing that is bound to occur. Kids will find ways to make fun of any name, never mind the ones that are just begging for laughs. You know, things like snotty Scotty, and jerky Jane. But those would be blessings compared to kids named Rainbow, Chasti- ty and Moonbeam. A_ boy who lived on my street in East York was named Sooty. Of course, the rest of the gang took full advantage of this. A lot of us had nicknames, but Sooty sounded like one already. To make up for it we called him things like cooty or dustball. Anyhow, I won't even get into strange last names. Having a fairly common first name made this column possible, but com- ments about family names are too risky for me. The Penetanguishene Citizen welcomes letters to the editor. They must be legible, signed (by hand), and carry the writer's address and telephone number for verification purposes. Pen names are not allow- ed and anonymous letters will not be published, but names will be withheld if circumstances warrant. Letters published by this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the opi- nion of this newspaper, its _ publisher or editor.